Flushing apparatus



p 1935- J. o. BARCE I 1,997,401

FLUSHING APPARATUS .Filed Feb. 5, 1953 Patented Apr. 9, l935 j 1 umreoasrhres A EN OFF CE FLUSHING APPARATUS p 11.101111 0. Barce, Chicago,

Application February 3, 1933, Serial No. 655,008 g I a flush tank which serves as-a storage reservoir from which flush water is=delivered under gravity only to the. bowl.

head of the water inthe tank a'subst antial'quantity of water is required for each flushing operation which necessitatesthe use of a. tank of quite large capacity. The other type comprises a hydraulically operated timing flush valve through which the water for flushing purposes is delivered directly from the watermains under substantial pressure. .These valves are quite complicated in structure and. somewhat delicate .in :operation andare therefore likely to get out :of .order. Furthermore the delivery of a sufiicient-volume of water in arelatively short time for a satisfactory flush requires that thesupply pipe to the large size pipe is not. only expensive to install but in buildings already equippedwith flushtanks supplied by. small piping, these tanks cannotbe replaced with pressure flush valves withoutrepiping with larger. pipes. l l l My present invention aims to overcome the objectionable features tioned types of flushing apparatus by: providing an apparatus whichlike thefiush valve canbe used with-small water-supply lines and willgive an initial delivery of flushing water under a pres.-

sure but will be simple and inexpensive and not likely to get out of order. Because of this pres"- sure delivery the apparatusof my invention will less water than isrequired-for afiush by a gravity flush tank, thereby enablingthe use of a storage tank of considerably less dimensionsthan those of a gravity tank. l Another object of my inventionis to provide a flushing apparatus having alleak-proof water supply valve which willflpositively shut off the water supply when closed andwhich will be free from the objectionable noises of water hammer and thehissingfnoises of, a closing valve which trolled shut-off valves.

are incident to the useof thepresent float con- Another purpose of-myinvention is to provide for positively opening and positively closing Because of the low gravity ordinary gravityflushtank, the'tank being preferflush valve be at least one .inch in diameter. This ofbo'th of the above men openings I3,as shown.

.asshown. A piston I5 produce a satisfactory bowl flushing with much a working fit with s the piston being secured to the tube l'l bynuts 22 i the flushvalve which controls the dischargeof insure the closing of the valve upon the completion of the flushing operation. 1

Other objects and many of the inherentad vantages of my invention should be, appreciated asthe same become better understood by refer- 10 ence to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the single figure is a vertical sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of a flushing apparatus embodying myinvention. i

Referring to the drawing more in detail, referv ence character-5 indicates the flush-tank of the required dimensions, smallerthan those ofthe 20 ably of metal construction enameledforpurposes of sightliness and durability. AThe upper end of the tank is closed by a' tight fitting cover 6 providediwith one or more vent openings 1.

=A'n annular support 8 secured to the innerwalls of the tank" surrounds and carries an upright cylinders the lower open end of which projects b'eneaththe contact line between the cylinder and its support to provide an airpressure chamber, thepurpose'of which will be later explained. The upper end 12 of the. cylinder is preferably substantially closed except for one or. more vent 1 A second smaller cylinder 14 depends from the top .12, the lower end of this cylinder being open,

v equippedwith acup I washer l6 is adapted toreciprocate within the.- cylinder i L-this piston'being secured uponthe upper end ofatubular member I 1, the open upper end of which is closed by a screw plug L8 The lowerend-of this tube projects through a large piston I 9 equippedwith a cup washer2l to insure the interior of the cylinder 9,

and -23; respectively. 1

A water supply-pipe 24 otthe standard small size and connected with thewater supply main in the usual manner enters the tank}; preferably through the bottom, as illustrated, the pipe being provided inside'the tank with a cross connection 25 one branch of which is connected with apipe 26. leading into the upper end of cylinder 1-4; for the 'delivery of water' under pressureto the upper I face of the piston" I5. V a The upperbranch of cross connection 25 communicates through a pipe 21 with the interior of a valve casing 28 containing a shut-off valve 7 operating upon the principle of that disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,873,260 granted August 23, 1932. The casing houses a ,shut-off'valve in the form of a ball 29 of less specific gravity than water so that it is adapted to rise when unrestrained and contact the seat BI and effectually shut off the flow of water through the casing. The casing is formed to provide beneath the seat 3! a ball receiving chamber 32 in which the ball is disposed in the position indicated in dotted lines when the valve is open. The bottom curved wall of this chamber is provided with an opening which establishes communicationbetween chamber 32 and the lower chamber 34 The v water supply pipe into the valve casing is pro-' vided near its deliveryendwith a Venturi tube'35,

and a tube 3% connecting the chamber 3a with the throat of said venturi transmits to the'chamber :54 the suction produced by the venturi when water under pressure isbeing delivered therethrough.

Thissuction tends to produce a down-flow of water through the opening 33 and retains the ball 29 against the bottom wall of the chamber 32' so as toclose the opening 33 when water is being delivered throughthe casing. V a s V j Above the seat 3! the casing is provided with an annular shoulder or seat 3'? against which a head 35; on the lower end of and 39 projecting upwardly from thevertical extension of the easing is adapted to seat so as to materially reduce and substantially shut oi the delivery of water from the, casing.

. tween the rod 39 and the pistons by which the rod is'actuated as'the pistons approach the limit .of their travel in both directions; I

in the position shown onthe drawing the head 38 having been lifted from the position shown in dotted lines by engagement of the head d2-with thenut 23 as-the pistons approach the upper limit of-their travel is urged against its seatrfi'i by the waterpressure beneath. Upon travel of the pistons in the reverse direction the rod will remain.

in the position shown until it is engaged by an extension 53 ofthe plug I8, whereupon continued downward movement-of the pistons will depress the. rod into the dotted line position illustrated,

, the downward movement of the rod being limited by engagement of a collar on shoulder A l on the rod with the upper'end of the valve casing extension. Depression of the rod forces the ball, 29

downwardly away from its'seat into the chamber 32,-permitting a flow ofwater through the casing from which it is'delivered through the spout 45 into the tank. This flow creates asuction in the chamber 34, as previously described, tending-to holdtheball it in the lower-end of: the-chamber. When the rod 39 israised by upward movement of the pistons toapoint where it will be moved against itsseat to; substantially shut off theflow of water, the-suction upon the chamber 341s dis-. continued, the water in the chamber'becomes substantially quiescent and the ball "28 floats; up- 7 1 wardly to engage its'seat 3! against which it is forced and-held by' the water pressure, thereby completely shutting ofi the flow and sealing the valve against leakage. 7

The pistons are actuated to open and close the supply valve in the following manner. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown and that the flush valve to be later describedhas been opened to permit the discharge of "flush water from the tank, as the water is'discharged the pressure in the tank will be reduced until the pressure upon the lower face of the larger piston I9 is overbalanced by theline water pressure upon the upper face of. piston 15, whereupon the by this water pressure. When during-this move ment the lower end of extension 43 engages the head 42 on the upper end of the rod extension 41 the rod 39 will be forced downwardly, moving the 'head 33 away from'its seat and forcing the ball 29 away from its seat into the chamber 32, thereby permitting a flow of water into the tank. .The downward movement of the pistons is limited by engagement of the collar 44 with the valve casing, after which the water is discharged from. the tank under gravity, the out-flowing water being two pistons will be forced downwardly as a unit replaced in the chamber by air which enters..*25

through openings 1,;il3, and a port 46 in the piston H! which iscontrolled by a float check valve 41. This valve; which is a ball'valve adapted to float in water 'similarlyto the ball valve 29, is caged within a series of depending converging prongs 48 and opens downwardly to permit entrance of air into the tank below the. piston was the flush water is discharged'therefrom. V V i When the flush valve is closed in a manner to be later described, the water level in the tank rises, displacing the air which escapes through ports 46, I3, and I to atmosphere. 'As the water level'risesabove the lower. end of cylinder 9 air;

is trapped inthe annular chamber l l which serves as an air pressure reservoir as the pressure in the tank increases. When. the water level reaches thelower faceof piston 19 the valve heats up'- wardly' against its seat and shuts off further es? cape of air and escape of water through the piston. When the pressure on the lower face of the larger piston 19 reaches a point which overbalances the water line pressure uponthe upper f ace of piston ii 5, the pistons will be bodily moved upwardly ing. As the pistons approach theupper limit of their travel the'rod 39 is lifted in the manner pre the ball valve 29 to. completely shut oil further flow of water. into the tank. The parts remain in this position until the-next flushing operation and the water thus stored in' the tank will be under a pressure dependent uponrelative areas of the pistons I5 and 191 Assuming that the relative areas are as one to five and that the line water pressure is forty-five pounds per square inch,

itwillbe manifest that the water will be stored .in the tank at slightly, above nine'pounds pressure and that" the initial discharge from the 6 tank for flushing purposes will be under this pre sure which is maintained for an appreciable period during the discharge by the air under pressurein thefpressure chamber .1 l. T

The discharge from the tank for flushing purposes is delivered through'a discharge pipe 45 of materially larger capacity than the water supply line. The flushing discharge is controlled by a valve 51 preferably spherical in form carriedby into the position shown in full lines on the draw- I fviously described to cause engagement of the head a se with the seat 31 and thereby permit seating-of a rod 52- which is connected: at itsupper' end to a piston 53 adaptedt'o reciprocate in a cylinder .54 having a closed lower end and an upper end communicating with the water chamber of the tank. This cylinder may be'supportjed in any provided with an operating; knob affords pro-vision bywhich the valve maybe opened when the rod is pressed inwardly, The openingof. thisvalve) admits water beneath the piston 53 which moves the piston upwardly, thereby positively lifting the valve i from its seat against the pressureof the water within the tank. l The valve 58 of any suit able self-closing type will thereupon close to shut off'further water fiow'to-the cylinder 54. The lowering of the water level in the: tankby the discharge through the'discharge pipe 49 as previously explained willafer an interval result in.

the opening the supply valve, to permit a flow of water: into the tank: The water-flowing in under pressure through the venturi 3'5 induces a Y oler pressure and that this result may be accom plished with the use of an ordinary small water suction upon the chamber as as'previously described, which through. apipe 52 gradually withdraws the water from beneath thepiston 53 causing the piston to be'lowered to close the flush valve 5!. Water will thereupon continue toflow into the tank until the predeterminedpressure has beeniestablished therein, as previously ,described, whereupon the supply valve will be auto matically closed. During thequiescentstorage period counter'flow through the pipe '62 to the cylinder 5% which would result in opening the hush valve is precluded by a check valve 63 interposed in the pipe 62. V v

To protect the piston l5 and cylinder M from wear occasioned by dirt and silt carried by the infiowing water, the line 25" is provided with a fine mesh screen 64. The flow of water through the screen alternately in opposite directions as the piston l5 rises and falls automatically cleans the screenand prevents the accumulation of dirt and sludge thereon;

It will be manifest from the foregoing vthatmy apparatus'enables the storage of flush water unsupply line, thereby obviating thenecessity of a large supplyline such as is required'by a pressure fiushvalve. The discharge or flush valveis positively operated in both directions so that full openingfand complete closing aftera predetermined interval are insured. Leakage into'the tank is precluded by the ball type supply valve'utilized and noiseless delivery of, water into the tank is in sured.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and described, it should be understood that my invention is not limitedto thefldetails illustrated but is capable of embcdie ment in a Wide variety of forms comprehended within the scope of the following claims. I claim: l

l. A flushing apparatus comprisingatank hav-,

ing an automatic seal enabling the storage under pressure of flush water therein, means for supplying water, under. pressure to said tank, a valve controlling said water supply, means movable in v one direction by tank pressure and in the opposite direction by Water line pressure for closing said said tank.

valve upon the creation of a predetermined pres- .sure 'in'said tank and foropening the same when the water in said tank is depl'ete'd-to a predetermined level, a flush valve, and means for operating said valve. 1 r

2'.=A flushing apparatuscomprising atank a water. supply valve adapted to be closed by line pressure, means responsive to the relative pres.- sures of the water supplyto thetank. and the pressure within the tankfor Tpositively opening said supply valve, a'flush valve, andmeans for operating said flush valve.

3. "A flushing apparatus comprising atank, a valve closable by line pressure for controlling the supply of water under pressure thereto, means I67 sponsive to the differences between the pressure within said tank and the water Supply pressure for positively opening saidsupply valve, a flush valve, and means for positively opening and closing said flush valve. 1 i l V i. A flushing apparatus comprising. a tank, a

water. supply valve therefor, a piston within said tank having one face exposed to' tank pressure and the opposite face exposed to atmospheric pressure, a second piston. connected with said first piston and having onefaceexposedto the water supply pressure and the other face exposed to atmosphere, and means controlled by the posi'- tion of said pistons within ,the tank for operating said supply valve. a

5. A flushing apparatus comprising a tank),-

a water supply valve therefor, a cylinder within said tank communicating at its lower end with the water chamber; of'the tank and at itsupper end with'atmcsphere, an air pressure chamber within thetank a second cylinder communicating at one end with a source of water supply under pressure and at its other end with atmosphere, a piston reciprocable in each of said cyl inders, a connection between said pistons, a connection between said. pistons andsaid supply valve, a flush valve, and means for operating said der, a check valve carriedby said piston, a sec- 0nd cylinder communicating at one end with at-,

mosphere' andat its other end with a source of water. supply under pressureQa piston in said cylinder, an operative connection between said pistons, means controlled by movement of said pistons for actuating said supply valve, and means providing an air pressure chamber within 7. A flushing'apparatus comprising a tank, a

water supply valve, means for automatically controlling said valve, a flush valve and hydraulica ly actuated means for positively opening and closing said flush valve.

8 A flushing-apparatus comprising a. tank,

means for supplying water under pressure thereto, pressure actuated means for controlling the supply of water, a flush valve,.a hydraulic piston for positively opening and'closing said flush valve, means for admittingwater under pressure from the watersupply' to said piston to actuate the same in one direction, and meansfor withdrawing said water soadmitted to actuate said piston in the opposite direction. a 9. A flushing apparatuscomprising a tank,

'means for supplying'water thereto, means for automatically shuttingofi the water supply upon a creation of a predetermined pressure in said tanlga flush valve, a cylinder open at one end to the-pressure in said tank, a piston in said cyla Water supply valve therefor including a casing provided. with a seat, a ball valve for closing said seat, means for forcing said ball away from its seat, hydraulic means forlretaining said, valve away from its seat during a flow of water through the casing, a flush valve, a piston for positively opening and closing the same, means for admitting water to actuate said piston in one direction, and means connected with said casing through which a flow of water through the easing induces the withdrawal of water from beneath said piston to close saidflush valve. 7 11. A flushing apparatus comprising a tank a water supply valve therefor, a multiple piston having its smaller face exposed to the water line pressure and its larger face exposed to the tank pressure connected to said supply valve to operate thesame, and a screen interposed in the supply line to the smaller piston, said screen being cleaned by'the alternate flow of water in opposite directions to said supply line.

12. A flushing apparatus comprising a tank, a water supply valve, a flush valve, manually controlled means for causing the'opening of said flush valve, means operable by water line pressure for maintaining a predetermined pressure on the flush water being discharged during a portion of the discharge and for opening said supply valve, and means actuated by the flow of water to the tank for closing said flush valve.

13. A flushing apparatus comprising a tank a water supply valve, a flush valve,-manually con trolled meansfor causing the opening of said flush valve, means operable by water line pressure for maintaining a predetermined pressure on the flush water being discharged during a portion of the discharge and for opening said'valve and :also operable by the tank pressure to closesaid valve, and means for actuating said flush valve. 7 v r V 14. A flushing, apparatus comprising a tank, a watersupply valve,,aflush valve, manually controlled means for causing the opening of said flush valve, means operable upon the, opening of the flush valve for maintaining pressure on the discharge Water during a portionfof the discharge and for opening the supply valve after a j predetermined discharge, means operable by the supply water for closing the flush valve, and

means for closing the supply'valve when a predetermined Water level in the tank has been'attained. '1

15. A flushing apparatus comprising a tank,

a water supply valve, a flush valve, manuallycontrolled means for causing the opening of the j flush valve, means operable upon the opening of the flush valve formaintaining pressure upon 7 the discharge water until arpredetermined low water level in the tank has been reached and for then opening the supply valve, means rendered operable upon the opening of the supply 7 valve for closing said flush valve, and means for 7 closing the supply valve When'a'predetermined high water level in the tank has been'reached.

I JOHN O. BARCE. 

